Outboard propeller mechanism for boats



Filed NOV. 20, 1944 Feb. 28,` 1950 A. W. WANZER 2,499,339

OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR` BOATS 4 Sheets-Sheet l y Uvwizeys Feb. 28, 1950 A, W, WANZER 2,499,339

OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BOATS Filed Nov. 20, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 28, 1950 Filed NOV. 20. 1944 A. w. WANZER 2,499,339

OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BOATS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i 39, I -l a@ el ao i i l 5' i Izzi/9224x2220 ufalwuWaeazeai Feb. 28, 1950 A. W. WANZER OUTBOARD PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BOATS Filed Nov. 2o, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 28, 19g() OUIBOARD AIROPELLER' MECHANISM' vFOR BOATS;

Arthur lfl/Vi/anzer,` Quincr-1Massg, assignor..to.

Murray a Tregurtha, lnc-rQilincyi,Mass.-,. a `corporation of Massachusetts This invention relates to-propeller mechanism for boats of the type in which `the propeller-'is carried on a horizontal propeller shaft situated at the; lower end of a vertically. extending propeller-supporting.housing and is driven by a driving shaft extending vertically through thechousing, andin which saidhousing is mounted to turn about a vertical axis for steering the boat.

In propellermechanism of this type the .transmission of power through thewvertical rdriving shaft produces `a turning moment on the'vertically extending housing tending to turn it=about its vertical axis in the same direction assthatiin which the driving shaft is rotating, and if this turning moment is unbalanced itplaces an extra load on the steering mechanismV when the latter `is actuated to turn the 'housing yinad-irection opposite to such turning moment land assists the steeringoperation when the housing is turned in the opposite direction, thus :making itmuch harder to steer the boat in .one .direction thanin the other.

In order to overcome Iand balance this turning` moment on the housing, it has 4beenproposed to offset the propeller sha-ft'from the vertical shaft'of the housing. so that when the-propeller is operating, the thrust on the propeller-shaft subjects the housing to another turningmoment that is in a direction opposite tothat in `which the housing is subjectedby the-rotation ofthe vertical dri-ving shaft. A propeller mechanism 'having this construction isY illustrated inthe MathewsonPatent No. 2,335,597, NovemberfBO,

The turning moment to whichthe housingis l rsubjected when power is being .transmitted `through the driving shaft may for convenience bey referred to as the primary turningfmoment,"y and the opposing turning moment to which-the housing is subjected by the offset relation between the axis of the propeller and the vertical axis about which the housing lturns may be referred to as the *secondary turning moment.v

In propeller mechanism of this type, the primary turning moment on the housing varies with` the power being transmitted through the driving shaft. In the'device of said Patent No; 2,335,597, however, the propeller shaft has a fixed offset position with respect to the Vertical axis of the housing, and hence the thrust on thexpropeller` shaft is always acting to turn the housing in opposition to saidprimary turning moment through afixed leverage regardless of the amount of power being transmitted through the driving. shaft..

Itis one of the objectsof'my presentimention to `provide-a novel'propeller mechanism of the above type in which the offset relationbe.- tween. the propeller shaft and the vertical axis offlthepropeller supporting housing will be varied automatically -as the power transmitted through thedriving shaft varies, so that they primary turning.- moment on the housing resulting from suchv-transmissionof power will at all times be balanced by the secondary'turning moment thereon dueto the thrust on the propeller shaft; said vsecondary turning moment increasing as the primary-turning. moment increases and decreasing as said 1primary .turning moment decreases Another-featured the invention relates to a novelM-constructionfby which this automatic-balancing of the -primary-turningmoment,on the propeller-supporting housing may be utilized to .assistl the operation of `steering -the boat by turning :said housing yabout its vertical axis.

Other objects ofthe invention are to improve generally-'propeller mechanism in the particularshereinafter set` forth.`

In the drawings:

Fig; 1i isa fragmentary -v'iew of a boat having my improved `propeller mechanism, mounted thereon.v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section Vthrough the supporti-ng housing and illustrating the drivingconnections between the engine shaft andthe y vertical 1 driving shaft Fig-:3f is; a lside view ofFig. 2 looking'toward'the right with parts broken out.

Fig. eisen enlarged sectionon the line 4 4, Eis. 2;'-

Fig.l v5` is a Vertical lsectional view throughthe propeller` housing taken at right kangles to the propeller shaft andlooking-toward the rear,'Fig.\1 andshowing the mannerin which the offsetrelation between the propeller shaft and the axis fo ,fA thev propeller Yhousing ,is established.l

Apropelller mechanism embodying my invention maybeogffthe iii/Q6 adapted .tobe mounted on `the deck of a boatwth the propeller-supporting housing in outboard relation, crit maybe of the type in .which the motor isL located within the vesselkbelow thev deck.

In the drawings, I have illustrated an `embodiment in whichthe motor and operative connections between the latter and the. propeller are mounted onthe deck kof .theboat,

In the drawings l indicates the boat, barge or other vessel .which is .equipped withmy improved propeller` mechanism, the latter comprising .a power generator, a propeller and operative conneionsbetween the power generator and Propeller, all of which parts are mounted on a suitable base or support 2 adapted to be mounted on the deck of the vessel I.

The power generator may be of any suitable type such, for instance, as an internal combustion engine, and it is indicated generally at 3. The propeller is shown at 4 and it is carried at the lower end of a vertically extending propellersupporting housing 5 which depends from and is supported by an extension 6 formed on a suitable supporting housing that is mounted on the base 2. The operative connections between the power generator 2 and the propeller 4 include a vertically extending driving shaft 8 enclosed in the housing 5, the lower end of said shaft 8 being connected by bevel gears 9 to a horizontal propeller shaft I9 that is journaled in the housing and on which the propeller 4 is mounted. The upper end of the driving shaft 8 is connected by suitable bevel gears II, I2 and I2a to an engine shaft I3 that is actuated by the engine or other power generator 3.

The vertically extending housing 5 is mounted for turning movement about its vertical ax's and for this purpose the upper end I4 of said housing is supported in suitable bearings |5 carried by the extension 6 of the housing 1. The means for turning the housing 5 for steering the boat will be presently described.

As stated above the transmission of power through the driving shaft 8 for operating the propeller produces a turning moment (herein referred to as the pirmary turning moment) on the housing 5 which tends to turn it about its vertical axis in the same direction as that in which the shaft 8 is rotating and one purpose of the present invention is to provide novel means for automatically balancing this primary turning moment by maintaining the propeller shaft I in such an offset relation to the vertical axis about which thev housing turns that the turning moment on the housing due to the thrust on the propeller shaft (herein referred to as the secondary turning moment) will balance the primary turning moment on the housing due to transmission of power through the driving shaft 8 under all operating conditions.

The housing is made in two sections which are pivotally connected together, an upper section I4 which is mounted in the bearings I5 and a r lower section I6 which carries the propeller shaft I9. The upper housing section I4 is provided with two depending ears Il which are pivotally connected at I8 to upstanding ears |9 with which the lower housing section IB is provided. The axis of the pivotal connections I8 is parallel to the axis of the propeller shaft I0. The lower housing section I6 is provided at its upper end with an enlarged portion 2|) having an upstanding annular flange 2|, the outer surface 22 of which is a section of a sphere having as its center a point in the axial line I8 midway between the ears I'I. This ange 2| extends into an opening 24 in the lower end of the extension 6 of the supporting housing 'i and there is provided a suitable sealing ring 23 between the surface 22 and the wall of the opening 24 to make a tight joint at this point. The curved exterior surface 22 of the upstanding flange and the sealing ring 23 maintain a tight joint between the housing 5 and the extension 6 of the housing as the pivoted housing section I5 swings about its pivot I8 and as the housing 5 turns about its vertical axis,

Rotatively mounted on the lower end 25 of the upper housing section I4 is a gear member 26 forming part of the steering mechanism presently to be described and which is provided with two depending portions 2'|, 28 that are situated inside of the flange 2| of the lower housing section I6 and each of which portions is formed on its underside with an inclined cam surface, said surfaces being indicated at 29 and 30 respectively. The large portion 2U of the pivoted housing section I6 carries two antifriction rolls 3|, 32 which bear against said cam surfaces 29, and 30. These two cam surfaces 29, 30 are located on opposite sides of the axis of the pivotal connection I8 and therefore any relative rotating movement between the gear 26 and the housing section I4 will operate through the cam surfaces 29, 38 and the rolls 3|, 32 to turn the pivoted housing section I6 about its pivot I8.

When power is being transmitted through the driving shaft 8 for operating the propeller, the primary turning moment on the housing 5 due to the resistance of the turning of the propeller shaft I0 will, as stated above, tend to turn the housing about its vertical axis a (see Fig. 5) in the same direction as that in which the driving shaft 3 is rotating. As stated above the gear 26 which carries the cam surfaces 29, 39 forms part of the steering mechanism and is, therefore, stationary except when it is operated for steering the boat. Assuming that the said gear 26 is stationary, and that no power is being transmitted through the drive shaft 8, the housing section I6 will assume a vertical position with the roll 3| at the low point of the cam surface 29, and the roll 32 at the high point of the cam surface 30.

If, now, the drive shaft 8 is turned toward the left, Fig. 5, or clockwise looking down on Fig. 5, the primary turning moment imparted to the housing 5, due to the transmission of power through the shaft 8, will tend to turn the housl ing toward the left or clockwise looking down on point thereof toward the low point, thereby causing the lower section I6 of the housing to have a swinging movement about the axis |8 into a position such as shown in Fig. 5. Such swinging motion moves the propeller shaft I0 laterally to one side of or offset from the axial line a of the propeller housing as seen in Fig. 5 and when the propeller shaft is in such odset position the thrust thereon will produce a secondary turning moment on the propeller-supporting housing 5 which will tend to turn it in an opposite direction to that in which it is turned by the primary turning moment. Because of these opposing forces, the housing 5 will come to rest with the pivoted section I6 thereof in such a position that the secondary turning moment thereon due to the olfset position of the propeller shaft will just balance the primary turning moment resulting from transmission of power through the driving shaft 8. The turning movement of the housing will,

. of course, cause a shift in the direction of the propeller shaft, which, however, can be corrected by turning the gear 26 by the steering mechanism as will be presently described.

If at any time the primary turning moment on the housing 5 increases or decreases due to an increase or decrease of the power transmitted through the driving shaft 8, thus momentarily unbalancing the opposing forces acting on the housing 5 (i. e. the primary and secondary turning moments) said housing will be automatically turned bythe unbalanced forces one-directionor the other about --its' vertical-axis andf such` turning movement will-operate through the; cam surfaces 29g 3U'` and the rolls 31:, 32 tovswing theI pivoted housing sectiony H5 about its.: pivot I8, thereby Vvarying the offset lrela-tionsufficiently Vto bring said opposing turning moments back intov balance. A balance between the primary and secondary turning moments on the housing will thus be automaticallymaintained, andthe -piv'- oted section l5 of the housing will be automati-4 cally held in such a position that. thesecondary turning moment thereonfduetothe offset position ofY the propeller shaft-Will just-fbalance theprimary turning moment due to transmission ofpower` through the-driving shaft 8. In orderto provide for this swing-ing movement of the housing section f5 withoutv cramping the vertical driving shaft 8; the latter'ism-ade in threesections connectedY `by universal joints; These compriser an upper section Sill,l an intermediate section 5i, and a lower section 54"-l Theupper section 50 is mounted in bearings. 53 car-riedby the housing 'l' and thus always maintains a vertical' position. This upper shaft section is connected to the intermediate shaft section 5l by the universal jointA 52?v The lower shaft; section 54 carries the bevel gear Eby which the' propeller shaft il! is rotated and it is mounted in bearings 56 carried by the swinging housing section I6 and it is connected to the. lower end of the intermediate shaft section bythe universal `ioint 55.

The steering. mechanism for steering the; boat includes a transverse shaft 38 carried by the housing extension 6 and provided with a worm 39 meshing with the worm teeth 40' on the gear 26, and: suitable mechanism connecting said shaft 38 withthe steering. wheel 4t. This mechanism is similar to that. illustratedin. my co-pending application Ser. No...4.75,.7441 and which matured into patent 2,458,813.on,January.1'l, 19491,. andit comprises a shaft 42 carried by the base 2 and connected by sprocket chain 43 with a sprocket wheel 44 rigid with the steering wheel 4| said shaft 42 having at-its rear end a bevel gear 45 which meshes with and drives another bevel gear 45 that has rigid therewith a sprocket Wheel 41 meshing with a sprocket chain 48 that engages another sprocket wheel 49 on the shaft 38.

The turning of the steering wheel 4I operates through the above connections to rotate the gear 2t about the lower end 2-5 of the upper housing section i4 and such turning movement of the gear 26 will operate through the cam surfaces 29, 3B to swing the pivoted section I6 of the housing about its pivot I8Y thereby to either increase or decrease the offset relation of the propeller shaft to the vertical axis a of the housing 5.

As stated above, so long as power is being transmitted through the driving shaft 8 the propeller shaft will be automatically maintained in an offset relation which subjects the housing 5 to a secondary turning moment that just balances the primary turning moment to which said housing is subjected by transmission of power through the driving shaft 8. Whenever the steering mechanism is operated to turn the gear 26 this balance will be upset either by increasing or decreasing the amount of offset between the propeller shaft and the axis of the housing, thereby increasing or decreasing the secondary turning moment on the housing 5 relative to the primary turning moment thereon. Whenever the balance between the forces tending to turn the propeller housing in either direction is thus upset, said housing will turn'y automatically intouanp'ositioni to bring the forces back intol balancev again.

If it-be-assumed that the boatisoperatingwith the housing 5 occupying a positionfin which the. propeller shaftv -D isl in a position parallel to the forward movement of the boat .andi it is desired to give the boat a turning movement toward.` the right, which would. involve turning. thehousing. counterclockwise looking down. in Fig. 1., the steering wheel 451 will be operated'y to turn. the gear 26' in a counterclockwise `direction looking down iny Figs. l and 4'. This turning movement off the gear 25 will operate through thecamsurfaces 29, 3l! to swing the pivoted section I6 of theIpropeller-supporting housing laterally, thereby varying the turning moment on= the housing due to thel offset relation of.` the propeller shaft relative tothe vertical axis a with the resultthat the opposing forcesabove referred: to will be unbalanced. This unbalanced condition will pro.u duce an automatic turning movement of' the housing` 5 about its vertical axis .which willv bring the opposing forces back into 'balance and `such turning movement of the` housing swings the propeller shaft IU into an angular positionrela.- tive to the direction of movement. of the boat which will result in causing theboatto turn.

The steering of the boat, therefore,v is accomplished by turning the gearuZ in one direction or the'other and such turningmovement'operates as above described` to give the housing'ir an. angular position about its vertical axiswhichcauses the boat to turn in one.I direction or the other;

It will be noted that the depending portions 27 and 281 of the4 gear 25-` are provided withl stop shoulders ll'at each end of the cam surfaces'ZS; 30, such stop shoulders limiting the extenth of the turning movement of the gear 2li-on the housing section M. and preventing. the rolls 30, 3lV from being carried off from` the cam surfaces 29, 30;

I claim:

1. A propeller mechanism for boats comprising a vertically extending propeller-supporting housing, a propeller carried by said housing at its lower end, means for rotating the propeller including a vertically extending driving shaft enclosed in said housing and a horizontal propeller shaft on which the propeller is mounted, means supporting said housing for turning movement about a vertical axis for steering the boat, said housing being made with an upper section and with a lower section which carries the propeller shaft, means pivoting the lower section to the upper section to swing relative thereto about an axis parallel to the propeller shaft, and means responsive to the turning moment on th-e housing resulting from transmission of power through the driving shaft to swing the lower housing section about its pivotal axis into a position in which the axis of the horizontal propeller shaft is at one side of the vertical axis of the housing.

2. A propeller mechanism for boats comprising a vertically extending propeller-supporting housing presenting an upper section and a lower section pivotally connected thereto, a propeller carried at the lower end of said lower housing section, means for rotating said propeller including a vertically extending driving shaft enclosed in said housing and a horizontal propeller shaft on which the propeller is mounted, means supporting the upper section of said housing for turning movement about a vertical axis for steering the boat, whereby the torque to which the vertical driving'shaft is subjected when the propeller is operated produces a turning moment on the housing tending to turn it about its axis in the same direction as that in which the driving shaft is rotating, steering mechanism for turning the `housing to steer the boat, said steering mechanism including an annular member coaxial with the upper housing section and mounted for turning movement thereon, said annular member having a cam surface cooperating with the pivoted housing section to turn it about its pivot as said annular member is turned, said turning moment on the housing member producing a turning motion thereof about its vertical axis which operates through said cam surface to swing the pivoted housing section about its pivot thereby to move the propeller shaft into an offset position relative to said vertical axis.

3. A propeller mechanism for boats comprising a vertically extending propeller supporting housing, a propeller carried by said housing at its lower end, means for rotating the propeller including a vertically extending driving shaft enclosed in said housing and a horizontal propeller shaft on which the propeller is mounted, means supporting said housing for turning movement about a Vertical axis for steering the boat, said housing comprising an upper section and a lower section, means mounting the lower section on the upper section for lateral swinging movement relative thereto in a direction at right angles to the propeller shaft, said mounting means holding the two housing sections from relative turning movement about said vertical axis, and cam means responsive to the turning moment on the housing resulting from transmission of power through the driving shaft to swing said lower section into a position in which the axis of the horizontal propeller shaft is at one side of the vertical axis of the housing.

4. A propeller mechanism for boats comprising a vertically extending propeller supporting housing, a propeller carried by said housing at its lower end, means for rotating the propeller in cluding a vertically extending driving shaft enclosed in said housing and a horizontal propeller shaft on which the propeller is mounted, means supporting said housing for turning movement about a vertical axis, said housing comprising an upper section and a lower section, means mounting the lower section on the upper section for lateral swinging movement relative thereto in a direction at right angles to the propeller shaft, steering mechanism for turning the housing about its vertical axis for steering the boat, said steering mechanism including an annular member turnable about said vertical axis and operatively engaging the lower housing member, one of the two last named parts having a cam surface which engages the other part, whereby the turning moment on the housing resulting from transmission of power through the driving shaft turns the housing relative to said annular member and thereby swings the lower housing section laterally and maintains it in a position in which the propeller shaft is sufciently offset from said vertical axis so that the turning moment on the housing resulting from said oset relation substantially balances the turning moment to which the housing is subjected due to the transmission of power through the driving shaft.

ARTHUR W. WANZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 249,191 Mallory Nov. 8, 1881 2,253,757 Bugatti Aug. 26, 1941 2,335,597 Mathewson Nov. 30, 1943 2,369,456 Hammond, Jr Feb. 13, 1945 

